But God....

This morning as I was preparing my youth message for Sunday I was amazed at a phrase that I believe God highlighted to me.

Maybe I should share some context. We have been doing a series on "Prayer."

We began by looking at what is known as the "ACTS prayer". You focus on praying for 4 things in this prayer.

Adoration
Confession
Thanksgiving
Supplication

It is intended to pray all at once but I have been taking it slow and teaching it part by part. Looking at different prayers of adoration in the Bible or prayers of confession.

This week we are on Thanksgiving and Supplication.

Thanksgiving is pretty clear but what are prayers of Supplication? They are simply making our requests known to God. "God I neeed......."

As I was researching and praying about this subject God gave me a phrase...... "But God....."

It is throughout the scriptures. Here are three! 

"My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."- Psalm 73:26

"You intended to harm me, But God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."- Genesis 50:20

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us."- Romans 5:8

A story of trusting in God

A story demonstrating this is Hannah's prayer for a son in 1 Samuel 1.

Hannah was conceive a child. She was even mocked for it. But God saw her.

Hannah declared a prayer of supplication. "O Lord of Heaven's Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord, his hair will never be cut."- 1 Samuel 1:11

She couldn't have a son, she was having trouble. She could have given up. Even her husband wasn't helpful, he said: "Why be downhearted just because you have no children? You have ME- isn't that better than having ten sons?"

No, Hannah wanted a son. She could have been discouraged after hearing these words.

And many times we give up. When something isn't working we say "Well, it wasn't Gods' will." or "I can't do it."

And maybe you can't do it! Isn't that encouraging?

But God can.

And God did!

The Lord remembered her plea, and in due time she gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, "I asked the Lord for him."- 1 Samuel1:20


What about you?

 What problem are you facing today?

I want love that person but I can't stand them.
I want to control my angry but they are a jerk.
I want to interview for that job but I'm afraid.
I want ....... but I cant.......

When I (we) replace "But I cant" with "But God can" we transfer our hope from ourselves to God.

I WANT you to know that no matter the mountain you are facing it is not too big for God to change and transform.

This is the overarching theme of the Bible. Things are going horribly But God steps in and saves the day.

Do you need this kind of God? I do.  And that is what God does for each one of us!

Remember, Jesus died.......But God raised Him to life.

NO PROBLEM IS TOO BIG! Not death, not sickness, not mental illness, not financial issues, not my lack of faith! Nothing is too big for God to come in and save the day!


Let's declare:

Abba Father, I dealing with this problem ___________________________________. This problem feels overwhelming But God YOU ARE GOOD. There is no mountain too big for you. Give me the power to transfer my trust to YOU.